Saturday, 29 September 2012

Yamato Yamada has a dream: to become a published comic
artist. His ambitions will have to bare are placed on hold, however, one
day when he beats the local gang leader
with his previously non-existent super strength. What is the source of Yamato’s
newly awakened powers?

Serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump comic anthology
in Japan and in North America in Viz Media’s Weekly Shonen Jump Alpha
Takagamahara is simultaneously campy fun and largely unspectacular. The series
seems to be a homage to American superhero comics which in itself is at least
worth trying the series out. On the other hand the series is not without it’s
issues.

The protagonist is generic incarnate both visually and
personality wise and the cast in general is largely uninteresting. There is
also an incredibly bizarre Hulk imitation as the antagonist in one story arc.
Yet all-in-all the series is fun. The concept is original though I don’t see
much in the way of a plot developing but the fight scenes are blood-pumping and
the art quickly started to grow on me. In the end, I suppose, Takagamahara is a
guilty pleasure type of series. It may not be a masterpiece but it sure is a
heck of a lot of fun!

Takagamahara is presently only available through Viz Media’s
digital only Weekly Shonen Jump anthology in North America.